1943 - May 20, 2020'

David Lloyd Ringler

In the summer of 1943, Anna Margaret and Lloyd Lee Ringler of Burlington, Iowa, welcomed their first son David Lloyd Ringler, into this world.

In 1958, the Ringler family moved to Bloomington, Illinois where David graduated from Bloomington High School, Class of 1961, along with his older sister Suzy and younger brother Steve.  David was active at BHS, serving on the Student Council, as well as being involved in several school clubs, the theater, and in politics,  He also co-founded a local rocket club that had a successful launch of Antnik I.

Always having an inquiring mind,  David's higher education began at Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN.  He later attended and graduated from the University of Missouri's School of Journalism.

Right after graduation, David answered the call to serve our country at the age of 24 in September of 1967, as a Naval Communications Officer on the USS Renshaw (a Fletcher class Destroyer).  Upon his return from Vietnam, he was sent by his captain to San Diego to get special training for his future assigment as a part of the Pearl Harbor Fleet Training Group. It was during this training on January 7, 1968, that he was introduced by a friend to his wife of 50 years, Marion..

David then returned to Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, where he trained US, Australian and New Zealand ships heading to Vietnam.  He was in the midst of training the crew of the USS Enterprise, ( the world's 1st nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) when there  was an explosion.  David was on the flight deck at the time, and helped to fight the fires.  He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1969 with the rank of lieutenant.  

Shortly after discharge, David and Marion were wed on June 6, 1969,  The couple moved to New York City where David started his professional career at the Phizer Corp, followed by a few years in Washington, D.C. It was there that their first son Matthew was born.  A few weeks later they moved to the San Francisco Bay area.  It was here, 2 years after the move, they they welcomed their second son, Philip, into the world.

David's career in the corporate world continued in San Francisco as the Director of Public Affairs at the McKesson Corp, and concluded in Silicon Valley, where he was Senior VP of Strategic Planning and HR at the Semi Trade Association.  It was at McKesson that David spear-headed the creation of CALSTAR, the first consortium air rescue program in the United States.  CALSTAR continues to succeed in its mission to save lives and reduce disability through rapid transport, excellent medical care, and education,

Anyone who knew David was always impressed by his breadth of knowledge on a very wide range of topics.  He was very much a "renaissance man" in our modern world.  David also had a love for good food and travel, both of which he and the family enjoyed throughout his lifetime.

During his retirement, his voluneeer work included being a Red Cross Shelter manager in Texas during Hurricane Katrina and managing a shelter at the Del Mar Racetrack during the fierce fires in southern California in 2007.

Later he helped start the Patriot Jet Team Foundation.  The foundation provides students opportunities to grow in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

David and Marion were residents of the San Francisco  Bay area for 46 years until they moved to Orlando, in September of 2019 to be closer to family.

Although David had many professional accomplishments, his main focus and love was his family, and he will be treasured by his family forever.

David passed away peacefully with his wife Marion by his side of May 20, 2020.

He leave behind his loving wife, Marion Elaine Ringler, his children Matthew Lawson Ringler, (wife, Rebecca Ann) of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and Philip Lee Ringler (Anna Moore Higgins) of Orlando Fl, as well as a dear sister, Suzanne Jones, Asheville NC and several nieces and nephews across the country.

A private remembrance will be held by his immediate family in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his ashes will be interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Donations can be made to Hospice of the Comforter of Alamonte Springs, Floriida.